Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, September 18, 2025
Image source: James McCarthy/Getty for Lotte New York
Venus Williams Shared with the court Coco Gofu As an opponent and doubles partner.
When asked what advice she would provide for the baseline for the 21-year-old Delal Beach birth, the 45-year-old Venus Williams kept the simple and straightforward way.
Williams said she would tell Goff: Be loyal to yourself, remember you don’t need my advice.
Talk to Betideas in an exclusive interview, Williams said Goff has exceeded the achievements of most players of her age.
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“My advice to her – I don’t think she needs my advice.” Williams told Betty Diss while laughing. “The top five, second in the world, all these things. She must have shined herself.
“Honestly, she’s a role model. There are a lot of young girls who start because of her. So many young girls, this is their favorite player. She just gives back by doing something positive.”
A 15-year-old Gauff overturned Williams with a 6-4, 6-4 record at Wimbledon in 2019. A few months later, Gauff beat Williams directly at the 2020 Australian Open.
In addition to working with Gauff in Roland Garros’ doubles in 2021, these experiences reinforce Venus’s point of view that Coco is a completely unique player who should be true to himself.
“She has her own style of play,” Williams said. “That’s the beautiful part, right? You don’t have to be someone else.
“You have to be yourself. That’s how you become the best player to really know who you are, kind of like executing your own game. I’m very proud of it.”
A few years ago, Gauff shared some helpful on-field advice in a doubles match.
When Gauff is still violating the mistake she made in the last game, she said Venus turned to her and said, “Do you have a time machine? Because we can’t go back and replay this unless you have a time machine, so let’s move on and focus on the next one.”
Although opponents say Goff’s blind speed and bold backhand were her biggest weapon, Venus Williams called her power between her ears her greatest tennis tool.
“Her thoughts are so powerful,” Venus Williams said of Goff. “She is a fighter and a competitor. When your mind is the most powerful thing, everything else will come with it.”
